Sunday, September 23, 2007 : PATERSON, N.J. — U.S. Peruvians are closely following the extradition of former president Alberto Fujimori and his return to Lima, reports El Diario/La Prensa. Watching events on television from local restaurants, they question how justice will treat the former president.

“I don’t believe in Peruvian justice,” said David Alvarado, who left Peru 15 years ago. “Look at the example of Alan García, all the things he did and now he’s president again. The same thing is going to happen with Fujimori.

Some credit Fujimori with cleaning up the terrorism and bombings in Peru. Carlos Vera, who has lived in Paterson for 24 years, said it was good that Fujimori would be judged in Peru, but that he should be treated “like the person who freed us from terrorism.”

Others see the proceedings as a political ploy. “This is just a curtain of smoke,” said Alberto Atanasio, who has lived in New Jersey for 10 years, “to cover up what is happening in Peru, like the rise of the cost of bread.”

Luis Bazán, who has lived here for 19 years, added that nothing is going to happen to Fujimori. “This is just a charade, a political maneuver by Fujimori himself, who is very intelligent, so he can run for president again.”